Mexico Rocks - Ambergris Caye
Playa Forti isn't just a pretty view from above, though it is that. We love the easy shore entry here, a gentle slope into calm water that makes kitting up a breeze. Once you fin out a bit, the reef drops off into a classic Caribbean wall, hitting its max at 18 metres. It’s not the deepest dive, but it’s packed with details. We’ve spent entire dives just cruising along the top of that wall, watching tiny pearl blennies pop in and out of the coral, and spotted trunkfish grazing. Keep an eye out for orangespotted filefish, they're everywhere here, blending into the rock formations. Our favourite moment? Spotting a tiger grouper lurking in a crevice, or watching a brave Atlantic yellow cowrie inching across a boulder brain coral. Visibility usually sits around 22 metres, making it easy to enjoy the maze and lettuce corals that dominate the shallower parts. It’s a superb spot for a relaxed afternoon dive, especially if you appreciate the smaller, often overlooked reef dwellers.
- Location
- Ambergris Caye, Belize, Central America
- Coordinates
- 17.932700, -87.952300
- Type
- reef
Marine Protected Area: Hol Chan
Best Time to Dive in Ambergris Caye
The warmest water temperatures in Ambergris Caye occur in September, averaging 30.3°C. The coolest conditions are in February at 26.8°C.
Monthly Water Temperatures
- January: 26.9°C
- February: 26.8°C
- March: 27.2°C
- April: 28.0°C
- May: 29.1°C
- June: 29.5°C
- July: 29.7°C
- August: 30.1°C
- September: 30.3°C
- October: 29.9°C
- November: 28.8°C
- December: 27.9°C
Nearby Dive Sites in Ambergris Caye
- Amigo s Wreck - 15-30m (wreck)
- Basil Jones Canyons - shallow
- Belize Diving: The Highlight of the Caribbean
- Boca Chica Canyons
- Boca Ciega - 45-100+ feet
- Buena Vista Canyons
- Caroba canyons
- Catalan Rocks
- Caye Caulker Marine Reserve (reef)
- Christ of the abyss - 10-20m (reef)
- Coral Garden (reef)
- Cypress Canyon (wreck)
- Cypress Canyons (reef)
- Cypress Garden - shallow to 100+ feet (reef)
- Daradanellos Cut
Nearest Dive Centres to Mexico Rocks
Marine Life in Ambergris Caye
Home to 193 recorded species including 156 reef fish, 19 hard corals, 7 other, 3 sharks & rays, 2 whales & dolphins, 2 jellyfish.
Notable Species
- Blue Doctor (Acanthurus coeruleus) - Reef Fish
- Cowfish (Tursiops truncatus) - Whales & Dolphins
- Mustard hill coral (Porites astreoides) - Hard Corals
- Massive Starlet Coral (Siderastrea siderea) - Hard Corals
- Dark Green Parrotfish (Sparisoma viride) - Reef Fish
- French grunt (Haemulon flavolineatum) - Reef Fish
- Gutong (Sparisoma aurofrenatum) - Reef Fish
- Redear Herring (Harengula humeralis) - Reef Fish
- Sheephead (Microspathodon chrysurus) - Reef Fish
- Elkhorn coral (Acropora palmata) - Hard Corals
- Great star coral (Montastraea cavernosa) - Hard Corals
- Barber (Acanthurus bahianus) - Reef Fish
- Yellowtail Parrotfish (Sparisoma rubripinne) - Reef Fish
- Grunt (Haemulon plumierii) - Reef Fish
- Gutong (Scarus iseri) - Reef Fish
- Thin leaf lettuce coral (Agaricia tenuifolia) - Hard Corals
- Butterfly (Chaetodon capistratus) - Reef Fish
- Parrotfish (Thalassoma bifasciatum) - Reef Fish
- Cola (Ocyurus chrysurus) - Reef Fish
- Schoolmaster (Lutjanus apodus) - Reef Fish
Recommended Packing List for Mexico Rocks
Based on average water temperature of 28.7°C, currents 5 cm/s.
- Shorty or Rashguard - warm 29°C water needs minimal exposure protection
- Mask - essential for every dive
- Fins
- BCD - buoyancy compensator
- Regulator - your most safety-critical piece of gear
- Dive Computer - tracks depth, time, and NDL
- Surface Marker Buoy (SMB) - essential for boat pickups
- Dive Torch - useful for crevices and colour at depth
- Underwater Camera - capture your diving memories